Mask of A Legend (26 page)

L
egend and Jenny spent a lot of time together before Jenny left to go back to Chicago. Jenny reminded Legend of her past, and for that, it brought a type of sadness to Legend’s face, but sadness that also brought a sort of satisfaction to her bemused mind. Legend knew who she was, but Jenny strengthened her memory, and made Legend want to look at herself more in the mirror.

Legend looked at her image in the reflection of every mirror she passed by in her house, or else, every mirror she could find. It was like she craved to put the puzzle together that consisted of her outer beauty. It wasn’t real, and for that, it made Legend more tangled. She was confused about her own true image, and Jenny made her see that. Nevertheless, Legend desired this new life, and directly after Jenny left for Chicago, Legend stopped looking at her reflection all together. She gave up, after trying desperately to put this puzzle together, and discontinued looking at her reflection.

It was like, when Jenny came into her life again, she was forced to remember her true self. But once she left, Legend strayed away from her reflection, and tried to figure out her own true image, without the mirrors facing her. She tried to know who she was, without having her reflection seen to her.

Before, she didn’t want to look at her reflection, for the reflection of ugliness came with too many harsh memories entangled to its shape. But now, since Jenny came and went, Legend didn’t want to look at her reflection, instead she wanted to know herself without it.

“I am beautiful,” Legend said on November twentieth, standing in her room and getting ready for some event that was a surprise for her. She ogled her reflection in the mirror and said, “I don’t need to stare at my reflection anymore – I am beautiful. . . . I have Mark, who cares for my inner beauty, which is beautiful. I have fame, which was made by my inner self, and riches, which was made by the same thing.” She gave out a smile, she thought she discovered her confusion and made it melt away. “I mean, the reason why I’m not with Stephen is only because he doesn’t look for inner beauty. And for that, I’m never going to be with him, we’ll just be friends for good. . . . With my fans, they’ll never see my true image, only because they like my inner beauty more. And with my fortune, well, this mask did help it, but my inner self built it to a greater extent,” she added to her reflection. She smiled, turned away from it and headed down the staircase of her mansion. “I don’t need to look at my reflection anymore, I know who I am now.” She departed her mansion and found herself in the California night.

Stephen’s limo came up her driveway and stopped by her stairs, which reached the number ‘15’. She walked down, revealed herself to Stephen’s sight, and he exited the limo and looked at her. He stared at her long, pink satin dress, and her hair, which stood in a bun. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, staring at her blue eyes, and kissing her soft hand.

“Why thank you, my friend Stephen.” Legend walked with him to the limo and when she got in, Dina was in her view.

“Legend, you look stunning,” Dina said.

Legend smiled back. “Really, well, I wish I could say the same for you.” Dina stared with bafflement. Stephen got in the limo and Legend added, “So, Stephen, what is this surprise?”

“No, no, no, it’s going to be in about an hour.” The limo started moving.” All I’m going to say is my people worked hard at keeping this a secret from everyone, including the nation, and it’s a big surprise,” he added. The limousine drove past Legend’s front gates, and Dina still looked at her with confusion as to why she was sarcastic a few moments ago.

Dina looked at her and tried to figure out Legend’s sarcasm by giving her another compliment. “Well, if this event is a big surprise, then Legend is definitely dressed for it. You look fabulous,” Dina said with another smile.

Legend turned to her and returned a straight face. “Listen, Dina, don’t say another word. Jenny told me what you said to her, and how rude you were.”

“What’s going on, girls?” Stephen asked, noticing them both beginning to argue.

“Nothing, Stephen, this is just between me and her,” Legend replied. She rolled down the window and felt the November breeze blow against her angered face.

“Yeah, Stephen, I guess Legend’s mad at me,” Dina said. Legend began laughing. Dina knew the reason why she was angered toward her, but of course she had to put on the mental mask, in order for Stephen to believe that she was the innocent one. Very smart, and very tricky indeed.

“Listen to me, Dina, don’t try putting on this little act that you’re a sweet person, because we both know that’s not true.” Legend finally admitted to Dina that she’s wearing this mental mask, and she admitted it in front of Stephen.

“Alright, what’s wrong?” Stephen asked.

“No, Legend’s right, let’s just drop it.” Dina was scared, she knew what Legend was talking about through her evil glare of her blue eyes. Dina’s plan, on wearing this mask in front of Stephen, and showing kindness through it, was revealed by Legend’s words, her discovery into Dina’s mask. This discovery or finding caused Dina to be nervous, but, moreover, even more jealous toward her, because she looked like the bad one now. If Legend told Stephen the real reason as to why she’s angry at her, then Dina’s mask would be revealed, and her true pathetic ambition, which is being with Stephen, would be cast away.

“Well, then, let’s just sit back and enjoy tonight, shall we?” Stephen said. Legend and Dina still stared at each other with straight stares, as if they were about to go into battle with one another to the death.

Legend turned from Dina and placed her beauty in Stephen’s sight. She said, “You bet.” Even though it was healthy and revitalizing for Jenny to help and remind Legend of who she really was, it also did something to Legend’s mentality, as if she suddenly forgot the game she was playing with Dina. Keeping enemies closer. But Dina didn’t forget. The game was still on.

L
egend stepped out of the limo, tons of fans pushing at her beauty, trying to get a glimpse of it. She looked over at the LA street and saw the ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign in her view, staring at a big hill. She then faced to the front of her, passing fans, and saw a huge structure that was covered by a white sheet. The fans, cameramen, media, and others came pouring at Legend, and she walked down a red carpet that led to an outside stage. “Alright, everyone, she’s here,” a man announced in a microphone on the stage. Everyone started clapping hard. “This is the surprise that everyone has been waiting for, for about two weeks, and now it has finally come,” the man announced. Legend, Dina and Stephen walked to the front row of chairs that were in front of the stage. They sat down as Stephen’s father ran up to Legend and gave her a kiss.

“Legend, my beauty, how have you been?” William asked.

“My God, William, where have you been?”

“I’ve been around, mostly in New York and Chicago, trying to run all my other clients’ careers.”

“Hey, Father, when is this thing going to begin?” asked Stephen.

“Right about now. Listen, kids, I got to run now, I have a meeting in Chicago early tomorrow morning, but I’ll be attending the Styling Awards this Sunday,” William said before he kissed Legend on the face and rubbed Stephen’s brown hair.

“Aren’t you going to stick around?” Stephen asked. The lights on the stage began to dim and the moon from the heavens became their means of seeing.

“No, I can’t, but I’ll be at the Styling Awards,” William replied.

A spotlight came on the man onstage. William walked down the red carpet and watched as hundreds of fans stood and sat for Legend’s surprise. He entered a taxi, and that’s when the man on the stage said, “Now, everyone please take your seats, I’m about to reveal something that’s been under construction for two weeks.” He pointed to the white sheet as the surprise stood underneath it. The white sheet stood next to the stage, and was covered by a white light that shined from another spotlight. Legend looked at it and wondered what was under it. “For this past year, or almost a year, this nation was introduced to a girl who was beyond special,” he announced and the echoes went across the crowd. “She’s beautiful, stunning, gorgeous.” Sudden sadness came over Legend’s face, she didn’t want him to say that; those things were only a mask. “She’s kind, generous, funny, devastatingly intelligent.” A smile came on Legend’s face, she was happy because he was explaining her inner beauty, which was real. “But, throughout these months, this girl has done more than just walk up and down a catwalk, or sit and pose for a magazine cover. . . . This girl, or goddess, has reached out to those in need, and shined her voice to many, causing hope to settle in minds that were full of pain.”

The audience became silent, and suddenly he paused and became silent himself. He then stared at Legend and continued. “She taught us also about inner beauty, and how it’s the most important thing you could have. For that, the percentage of eating disorder victims has dropped 30%, and more and more battered women are coming forth, and leaving their hurtful lives behind. Every speech she gives causes her words to reach out and make sense of the problem which she is speaking about.” A tear came down from Legend’s right eye. “Before we show this structure, this surprise that’s under the white sheet, I would like to introduce the most beautiful being in the world, with the inner and outer beauty of an angel. . . . Everyone, I would like to introduce tonight, Legend,” he announced. The audience clapped and the cameras came over to Legend.

“Go get ’em,” Stephen said. He gave Legend a kiss on the right cheek, causing jealousy to set in once again in Dina’s eyes.

Legend walked up to the podium, and turned around for a moment to see the crowd of people that were there for her only. She smiled and cried, but she didn’t know the reason why she was here yet. She cried because of the words the man spoke about her, the words made her cringe inside, and feel happy. She walked up to the microphone, drying her tears, and said, “Um, well, I thank you for saying those kind words, and for everyone who’s here, I thank you for coming.” The audience applauded vigorously as the white sheet came down slowly. The white sheet came off completely, and revealed a statue of Legend’s name in big letters made of stone. Below her name were smaller words that read, ‘Outer Beauty Doesn’t Last Forever, But Inner Does!’ Legend wept more and knew that was a quote that she said in one of her speeches.

The man came back up to the podium, while staring at Legend, and said into the microphone, “This statue is going to be placed up by the big Hollywood sign, and is going to be shown to all of LA.” The audience applauded again and Legend cried more. “The reason for this is because we want everyone to remember a legend that helped people, not for her own pleasure or luxury, but because she wanted to. We want everyone to remember a legend that’s called Legend!” The audience began screaming out her name, chanting it like a rhythmic song, a chorus whose echoes could be heard for miles.

Legend watched the audience, it was like she was looking at time going by slowly, lagging as if motion was no longer relevant. As she looked, everything to her sight was moving in slow motion, her eyes making it seem like that. She stared beyond the audience, and looked up at the stars above. She stared heavily, trying to see some stars, because of the light pollution that was caused by the spotlights placed on her silhouette. She then looked out at the crowd again, and felt peaceful and, most of all, beyond content.

Perhaps, this was her moment to seize. “Um, thank you, everyone. . . . Many people, many people do not know my true, my true image,” she announced, smiling, fighting to get around her words. “But you all know my true character, and for that, I am happy tonight to say that I’m proud to be Legend Conaway, and I’ll always be here for all of you.” She then looked down at Stephen. “And this Sunday, at the Styling Awards, I’ll look forward to seeing all of you again,” she added, still keeping her sight on Stephen’s. “I care for you a lot, and maybe I love you all. Nevertheless, I will stand by my views, and always have anger and arguments with those who I feel are wrong with theirs. . . . Thank you, and goodnight!”

Dina saw her staring at Stephen. It was as if Legend was speaking to Stephen, but maybe she wasn’t. Dina then looked at one side of Stephen’s face and saw his left eye glowing with happiness. She put her head out more and saw his white face, and discovered that he was in a trance of what looked to be love. The jealousy was ready to rupture in Dina’s mind, while Legend walked off the stage, and Stephen still stared at her beauty.

“I have to find Mark, where is he?” Legend asked Stephen. She picked up her white purse from her chair.

“I think he’s back at his place, why?” Stephen asked. They all walked back down the red carpet, and fans were screaming out Legend’s name.

“Because I’m so incredibly happy right now. I want to share it with him!”

They all entered the limousine.

“Yeah, she wants to share her happiness with Mark, who is her boyfriend,” Dina stated.

“Well, I just thought that you were going to come with us to that dinner at ANTHONY’S SEAFOOD, you know, to celebrate,” Stephen whined.

“I can’t, I have to see Mark.”

The limo drove off past the structure of her name, and brought a smile to her face once again. The limo drove up to Stephen’s mansion, with him saying, “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” He watched Legend leave the limo, and she slowly tilted her head around to face him. Stephen didn’t want Legend to go, didn’t want her to see Mark: he needed her eyes to be placed on his face only. He felt saddened: he didn’t want Legend’s beauty to vanish from his sight once more, he craved it to stay there and allow his happiness to be fulfilled.

“Yeah, I’m positive, just go you two, and have fun,” Legend said. She ran across the street and headed toward Mark’s house. Legend then stopped, turned around, and faced her beauty toward Stephen again. They both were silent, no words came out, or even expressions on their faces. They stared at each other heavily, as Legend’s definition of her stare toward him was something that she knew only. Stephen’s definition of his stare toward her was something that involved love and uncertainty. Last, but not least, Dina’s stare toward Stephen showed jealousy as she followed his sight to where Legend was standing. Dina saw the way he stared at her, and then turned to Legend, and saw the way she was staring at him. The silver spoon didn’t feel so silver anymore.

Dina tried to figure out what Stephen’s stare meant, what was its definition.

Why is he staring at her like that?

Dina then turned to Legend’s sight, and discovered that Legend was still staring at him without any movements in her eyes or face, and without any words coming from her mouth.

Legend turned to face Mark’s mansion, and then looked back at Stephen again. She suddenly started to walk toward Stephen’s limo, in a lasting motion, her mind trying to find some words, some explanation for her coming back and seeing Stephen once more. As Legend walked, her mind showed happiness, prosperity; her dream of beauty was finally realized and true to reality, while her mask of beauty was still surreal to her mind. She then walked faster toward Stephen’s stare, she wanted to run up to him, and kiss him, but suddenly she saw Dina in her view, and the thought of showing her true feelings toward Stephen went away from her mind.

She stopped, once she reached the limo, gazed at Stephen heavily again, and said, “Um, I just want to thank you, Stephen, for everything you’ve done for me. Tonight was probably the best night of my life, and I owe it all to you. I just wanted to say that, and let you know how I felt, instead of just going to see Mark, and giving you no explanation for the way I feel tonight.”

Stephen looked up at her mask of beauty, and said, “Well, you’re welcome, Legend, and I’m glad to see that you’re happy tonight.” He paused, turned to Dina and saw her jealous eyes, and then turned to the girl he loved the most. He realized his love for Legend was stronger than he ever thought: he knew she was his soulmate. But, because of Dina’s presence, and the fact that she was, and still is, his girlfriend, it caused his mind to not allow his vocal cords to admit his love for Legend. It caused him to feel that this is the way it had to be, and for that, Legend’s happiness with Mark is what the outcome will be, and that was it. He sought after Legend to be happy, her to show her beauty, and, at the same time, show happiness within it.

He turned to Dina once more, and then back to Legend, realizing he was caught between feelings. His feelings toward Dina were nothing compared to his feelings toward Legend. But he knew deep inside that he was not allowed in Legend’s life, intimately and love-wise. He saw that she was not his to care for physically; she was only a friend, and that’s the way it shall be. He was not invited into her heart, and for that, he knew he had to let her go from his mind, his heart, and his soul. As they stared at each other more, it was like Stephen finally realized the true definition of her stare, as Legend finally realized his. They both knew the definition of each other’s eyes, as they stared at one another without saying a word. “Well, go on, I’m sure Mark will be excited to see you,” Stephen said.

“Goodbye.” Legend then faced Mark’s mansion again, and proceeded to run toward it. She wasn’t just running to it, she was running away from the only thing that was real up to now besides her inner beauty; her love for the guy she thought was a pig.

As she ran, Dina saw Stephen’s eyes locked on Legend’s figure. The limo drove off once again and Dina said, “Stephen, we have to talk seriously when we get to that restaurant.”

Dina knew she had to finally take off her mental mask toward Stephen, and show him the real her. But also she had to show the true bitch inside of her soul, and for that, she was nervous as they drove faster toward the restaurant. Stephen knew Dina was going to say something about him and Legend’s relationship as friends, and how she believes that there’s something more to it than just a friendly bond. He turned to face her and she said, while her mental mask was beginning to tear off, “I mean, I have something that I have to tell you. . . .”